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ECOWAS AND SAHEL REGIONAL HARMONIZATION FOR MRLs: Good Regulatory Practices (GRPs)

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Madrid, Spain, February 4-9, 2024

Minor Use Foundation - GMUS-4

Dr Gbemenou Joselin Benoit Gnonlonfin, PhD

Regional coordinator, Sanitary & Phytosanitary Standards Advisor& Entomologist, Plant Protection

The ECOWAS Commission, Abuja, Nigeria

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January 28, 2024

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Still growing …

INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS

KEY REGULATORY FRAMEWORKS (1)

• ECOWAP: Strategic policy for the 2016-2025 ECOWAS Agricultural Policy (ECOWAP/CAADP)
• SO1: Deeper Economic, Trade and Social Integration
• SO4: Sustainable & Inclusive Agriculture, Industrial, and Intellectual Productivity

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• Harmonized Regulation C/REG.21/11/10 related to the structural and operational rules for plant health, animal health and food safety in the ECOWAS region [(Art. 13(Establishment; Art. 22 (harmonization); Art. 25 (supporting risk assessment)]

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• Harmonized Regulation C/REG.3/05/2008 on the rules governing pesticides registration in ECOWAS region

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January 28, 2024

KEY REGULATORY FRAMEWORKS (2)

• West Africa Pesticide Registration Committee (WAPRC) = 2 Sub committees (CSP + Humid Zones); 17 countries of West Africa and the Sahel

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• Continental level: AUC-SPS policy framework and Annex 7 of the AfCFTA:
• Food safety strategy for Africa, 2021 (adopted, AUC)
• Plant health strategy for Africa, 2021 (adopted, AUC)
• Animal health strategy for Africa, 2018 (adopted, AUC)

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January 28, 2024

Functional regional food safety regulatory convergence established, Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, 18-22 July, 2022

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January 28, 2024

SCOPE: Major categories of food standards that can be amenable to convergence

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January 28, 2024

Regional network on data generation for CODEX work established

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January 28, 2024

Mechanism for Food safety laboratories network in West Africa and Sahel�

Objectives

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• Generate data to strengthen CCPR, CCRVDF, CCCF, CCFA

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• Promote national, regional and international cooperation and information-sharing

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• Promote access to accredited methods across the region

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• Build and operationalize (strengthen) a network of experts

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January 28, 2024

• Pesticide Residues & Residues of Veterinary Drugs: in collaboration with MUF, US-Codex, USDA-FAS

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• Pesticides (Lead laboratory: LCSSA, Benin)

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• 1. Okra (insecticide: Sulfoxaflor and Proquinazid)

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• 2. CoCoa (Methalaxil)

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• 3. other crops of interest

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January 28, 2024

Conducting MRLs field trials for required data generation: a project document available and ongoing discussion for support and implementation

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January 28, 2024

Pyramid: laboratory networking, data generation and information sharing

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January 28, 2024

WEST AFRICA PESTICIDES REGISTRATION COMMITTEE, WAPRC– REGIONAL HARMONIZATION

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January 28, 2024

Pesticides regulatory background

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January 28, 2024

Legal frameworks

• CILSS : Common regulation for pesticides registration No 8/34/CM/99 from12/16/1999 (Revised version).

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• ECOWAS : Regulation C/Reg.03/05/2008 on harmonization of the rules governing pesticides registration in ECOWAS region from 05/2008.

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• UEMOA (WAEMU) : Regulation No. 04/2009/CM/UEMOA on the harmonization of rules governing the registration, marketing and control of pesticides within the WAEMU from 03/27/2009.

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January 28, 2024

Legal frameworks

• ECOWAS enabling Regulation 02/06/12: on the powers, organization and functioning of the West African Committee for the Approval of Pesticides.

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• Decision 13/moc of April 2013, of the President of the ECOWAS Commission mandating CILSS for the establishment and operationalization of the WAPRC and NPMCs

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• Tripartite agreement in the field of pesticides signed by ECOWAS, UEMOA and CILSS in June 2018

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• Decisions n°0006/SE-CILSS/2020 of the Executive Secretary of CILSS establishing the WAPRC Coordination Unit in CILSS

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• Decision n°007/SE/SEA/UAM-GRH/2020 of the Executive Secretary of the CILSS transferring the Permanent Secretariat of the SPC (CSP) to the WAPRC.

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January 28, 2024

Key provisions of the regional legal frameworks�

• Pesticides registration prior to their marketing in the region is mandatory;

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• Establishment of regional body for pesticides' quality assessment and registration and for the coordination of pesticide management in the region;

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• Institution of regional pesticide management instruments;

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• Empowerment of the member States in the implementation of pre- and post-registration activities of pesticides.

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January 28, 2024

Governance of WAPRC

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January 28, 2024

Implementation arrangement

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January 28, 2024

Structures and infrastructures

• Structures
• West African Pesticides Registration Committee (WAPRC) for Pesticides application files' assessment and approval, to which the Sahelian Pesticide Committee (SPC) has been transferred,
• National Pesticide Management Committees (NPMCs),
• Research structures of the different countries.

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• Infrastructures
• Laboratories for pesticides analysis and quality control in the region,
• Laboratories for pesticides residue analysis in the region,
• Laboratories for the implementation of pesticides toxicology and ecotoxicology' studies in the region.

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January 28, 2024

Harmonized regional tools validated

• Four pesticides registration application files setting out data required for pesticides registration in the subregion:
• One registration application file for chemical pesticides in agricultural use,

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• One registration application file for chemical pesticides in public health use,

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• One registration application file for biopesticides based on micro-organisms (in agricultural and public health use) and,

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• One registration application file for biopesticides based on natural substances (in agricultural and public health use).

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• Near than fifty harmonized protocols (frame and specific) for pesticides bio efficacy assessment.

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January 28, 2024

Harmonized regional tools validated, cont.

• One pesticide inspection and control manual;

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• Guidelines for the establishment of the NPMCs;

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• Guidelines for conducting pesticides'health and environmental effects monitoring;

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• A platform for the processing of pesticide registration applications and pesticide management in the region called the West Africa Pesticides Management Integrated System (WAPMIS).

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January 28, 2024

Regional instruments for pesticide management

• Five regional instruments set by regional regulation :

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• The list of registered pesticides or those with a PAS,

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• The list of pesticides under toxicovigilance,

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• The list of severely restricted pesticides,

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• The list of banned pesticides,

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• The list of authorized pesticides at national level.

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January 28, 2024

Next Steps

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• Establishment of the NPMCs where it does not exist yet;

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• Operationalization of the provisions of the interim period before the full operationalization of the WAPRC.

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January 28, 2024

Other functional regional harmonization mechanism�6th ^_ Annual meeting of the Regional Taskforce of NPPOs and Partners in West Africa and the Sahel and Preparation for the meeting of the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM-17)

• Regional consultation and information sharing

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• Priority setting and planning

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• Harmonized and Common position on matters of interest

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January 28, 2024

Successes and learnings: benefits of implementation of good regulatory practices (GRPs)

• Regional coordination and information sharing improved

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• Rapid alert , decision-making and coordinated actions improved

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• Interest and participation in SPS-related activities improved (Codex, IPPC, WOAH, WTO SPS)

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• Better understanding, domestication and compliance to regional and international best practices improved

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• Countries incomes increased

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• Confidence and trust built among countries and stakeholders

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• Planning together and implement together; built synergies

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• Resources mobilization improved

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January 28, 2024

Key Challenges & Proposed Solution

• Quick turnover in the national government system
• Beyond ECOWAS mandate, however, advice/recommends member States to ensure continuity and sustainability of interventions

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• Inconsistency of some Member State participation or availability in a timely manner to ensure complete Involvement and inclusivity for ownership
• Online meeting /online participation/improvement on standard communication

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• Delays in procurement process
• Fast track process

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January 28, 2024

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Thank you for your kind attention!